[學測指考必備時事焦點] 英國女王年度聖誕演說：「你不孤單。」

1. Britain’s Queen Elizabeth has commended frontline workers for their efforts during the pandemic, expressing during her annual Christmas television broadcast how “moved” she was by the “quiet, indomitable spirit” shown by people over the last year.

（英國女王伊麗莎白二世讚揚一線工人在疫情期間所做的努力，並在年度聖誕節電視廣播中表達了對於人們過去一年所表現出「安靜沈穩，不屈不撓」的感動。）

相關單字：

commend (v.) 讚揚，稱讚，表彰

• 同義字：praise, compliment
• 相似字：command (v.) 命令，指示
• 補充用法：commended 人 for/on 事 因某事稱讚某人

indomitable (adj.) 不屈不撓的；勇敢堅定的

• 同義字：unyielding, unconquerable, unstoppable

2. “Every year we herald the coming of Christmas by turning on the lights,” the Queen said, noting that this year people were unable to celebrate in the usual way. “But we need life to go on,” she added. “A year that has necessarily kept people apart, has in many ways brought us closer.”

（女王說：「每年我們通過開燈來預示聖誕節的到來。」並指出今年人們無法以往常的方式慶祝。 她說：「但是我們需要讓生命繼續前進。在這人們必須分隔的一年，在許多方面使我們更加接近。」）

相關單字：

herald (v.) 預示…的開始；（尤指透過慶祝或讚揚）宣佈（常指好事）

• 同義字：proclaim, announce, declare, acclaim

3. “Of course for many, this time of year will be tinged with sadness,”the Queen said. “Some mourning the loss of those dear to them, and others missing friends and family-members distanced for safety, when all they’d really want for Christmas is a simple hug or a squeeze of the hand.” She added: “If you are among them, you are not alone and let me assure you of my thoughts and prayers.”

（女王說：「當然，對於許多人來說，一年中的這個時候會充滿悲傷。」 「有些人哀悼失去的親人，而其他一些思念著朋友和家人的人們則為了安全而隔離，他們聖誕節真正想要的只是一個簡單的擁抱或握手。」她補充說：「如果你其中一員，那麼你並不孤單，讓我向你們保證我的思想和祈禱與你們同在。」）

相關單字：

assure (v.) （尤指為消除其憂慮而）確定地對…說，向…保證，使確信；讓…放心

• 同義字：promise, ensure, guarantee
• 補充用法：assure 人 of 事 向某人保證某事

4. The Queen said she had been inspired by stories of those who helped people in need and said the people of the UK and the world had risen to the challenges of the year. She went on to say the country owed a “debt of gratitude” to those who worked in frontline services and in the scientific fields.

（女王表示，她被那些幫助他人的故事所激勵，並說英國及全世界的人民對今年的挑戰臨危不亂。她接著說，英國欠一線服務者和科學領域研究員一個感謝。）

相關單字：

rise to the challenge (phrase) 成功應對困難；臨危不亂

• 同義字：rise to the occasion

debt (n.) 債務

• 補充用法：owe a debt 欠債

5. The British monarch traditionally celebrates Christmas at Sandringham, her English country retreat, where she is usually joined by children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but Covid-19 has prevented them celebrating at the estate this year.

（英國女王傳統上會在英國鄉村度假勝地Sandringham與孩子，孫子和曾孫一同慶祝聖誕節，但Covid-19使他們今年無法在莊園裡慶祝。）

相關單字：

monarch (n.) 君主；國王，皇帝；女王，女皇

• 同義字：ruler, royalty,  king
• 補充用法：a hereditary monarch世襲的國王
  a constitutional monarch 君主立憲的國王或女王